Golf and Maintaining Your Focus

For a long time, perhaps as long as you play golf, those not-so-perfect golf shots are going to outnumber the perfect ones. For this reason, knowing how to deal with the not-so-perfect shots is just as important as knowing how to deal with good golf shots. What it comes down to is mental and emotional control and being able to stay in the psychological state in which you have the best possible chance to perform. That goes for the first shot as well as the last shot and every shot in between.

To be the best golfer you can possibly be you need to develop your shot-making skills as much as possible. But if you cannot access those skills when they are needed, such as on the last green or fairway when the pressure is on, you will not be able to play your best golf game.

Finding your flow, your zone or that state where everything is effortless is something we all do occasionally, usually without knowing how we actually got there. Learning how to find the zone often requires learning about yourself and how you think and what you see, hear and feel when you’re in the zone. It is also about learning how to practice this state and the formula that gets you there. No one is saying it’s easy, but it can be accomplished.

To say that the top golf players in the world are good at following their winning formula is stating the obvious. Many golfers would agree that this is what distinguishes a world-class golfer from an average player. Every professional player has outstanding shot-making skills, but only those who can access their full potential when the heat is on will prevail.

Even to describe what these players do psychologically to perform so well is not easy. Individual differences are a factor; solutions that work for one golfer may not work for another. However, those exceptional golfers commonly possess some of the following qualities:

1. They all have a narrow focus, which helps them gather their attention for every shot. They are also great at relaxing and broadening their attention in between golf shots.

2. Emotionally they are very stable, meaning they show little to no reaction on good or bad shots.

3. They possess a higher level of dominance making them more aggressive in their golf game.

4. Their attitude is tough. They care about their golf game and they are tough on themselves when needed.

5. They have a high level of independence which is an advantage when planning the game.

6. They all show a high level of self-confidence and they never stop believing in themselves, even after playing badly.

A golf game is long, sometimes more than 5 hours. It can be difficult to remain focused the entire time. It’s crucial to find the optimal level of concentration for each shot, many professionals develop the ability to focus their concentration when they are about to take the shot, not allowing anything to disturb them. After the shot, they re-focus their attention to a conversation with other players or the caddie until it’s time once again to take another shot.

Great players have the ability to create a bubble around them when needed and not let anything distract them from their golf game. There will be a clear distinction in your game once you reach that level of concentration.